Nonskid tire chain



Feb.22,1949. F. G) Fox 2,462,378

NoNsKID TIRE CHAIN FiledvFeb. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -f-/z 55H7- fox,

Feb. 22, 1949. F. G. Fox l2,462,378

NoNsKID TIRE 'CHAIN Filed Feb. 14, .1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE NoNsKrD TIREV CHAIN n Filbert G. Fox, Doylestown, Pa., Application February 14,1947,se`ria1N0. 728,613 "j 2 cams. (ci. isa- 213) I This invention relates to non-skid tire chains formotor vehicle wheels, Vand has for one of its principal objects the provision of tire chains that may be quickly and easily applied to kmodern automobile wheels without jacking up the vehicle. Many drivers, particularly those who travel principally on paved streets or roads, are desirous of driving as long as possible without chains, to avoid unnecessary wear on tires and chains as well as the noises usually incident to tire chains. When, however, inclement weather conditions necessitate the use of tire chains for safe driving they desire to apply the tire chains quickly at the side of the road or street wherever they happen to be, without jacking up the Vehicle or individual wheels thereof. My improved tire chainhas been designed to meet the demands of such drivers.

Another object of this invention is the arrange-r ment of fastening means for tire chains that will enable quick application of the chains on wheels of automobiles having fenders that overlap a large proportion of the wheels and the central portions of the wheels are not provided with apertures of sufficient area to permit handling of the inner side chains therethrough.

. A further object of this invention is the provision of a tire chain having inner and outer circumferential side chains connected at intervals with anti-skid cross chains, the side chains being of sufcient length to touch the ground when centered over a vehicle wheel resting on the ground, one end of the outer side chain and one end of the inner side chain being provided with enlarged loops or rings and the other end of the inner side chain carrying an extension member of sunicient length to rst pass through the ring on the inner side chain, then extend directly across the tire tread to form an additional antiskid member, and then pass through the ring on the outer side chain, a clamp on the end` of Such extension member then being secured to `a link ator adjacentv the other end of the outerside chain when the tire chain is drawn into position upon the tire 'oy pulling on such extension member and the end portions of the outer side chain. A..further object of this invention is the provision of an effective tire chain that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and adapted to be fastened uponfor removed from a'modern automobile Wheel quickly by the Vaverage driverwithout the use of tools.

f Other objects and advantages will be apparent from lthe following description, wherein reference ismade'to 'the' accompanying drawingsV showing,

preferred embodiment of by Way of example, a the invention, and wherein I 4 Fig. llis aperspective view Aof a vehicle wheel with myimproved tire chain centered thereover preparatory to beingsecured thereupon;

`ligfz is an elevational view of the inside face of the wheel, with the inner side chain of my tire chain in annulus form after completion of the rst step of securing the tire chain onto the Wheel; y

Fig. 3 is'an elevational view of the outsideface ofthe wheel, after the completion of the second step of securing the tire chain upon the wheel;

Fig. 4 is an elevational View similar to Fig. 3, after the completion of the third and final step of securing the tire chain uponl the Wheel; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a clamp preferably used in my improved tire chain; and,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of such clamp. Referring now to the drawings, the numeral I Il designates a strand of chain herein called the outside chain because it isV the one that when positionedon the wheel Will be furthest removed from the vehicle. lt is also referred to herein as the shorter chain because it is not as long as its companion chain II, being in fact of lesser length than the :circumference of the wheel tire and adapted when in use to be positioned adjacent to the inner periphery of the tire, as best shown in Fig. 4. The terminal link I2 at one end of the shorterchain I0 is preferably in the form of a loop or ring sufficiently oversized to permit easy passage therethrough of a portion of the companion chain II, as will be hereinafter described. It will beunderstood that the terminal link I2 may take various shapes provided loop portions of sufcient area are included in their formation VThe inside chain I I is adapted to be positioned in use adjacent the inner periphery ofthe wheel tire between the tire and the body of the vehicle. Chain I I is much longer than' its companion chain Ill and` longer than" the circumference of the Vtire on which itis used, the extrafchain portion being utilized in securing the tire chain on the tire, as hereinafter pointed out. TheA terminal link I3 on one end of inside chain i I is formed as an enlarged loop or ring, similai to theenlarged terminal link I2 on chain I0. Onv the other end ofA chain II, however, is provided a clamp i4 of a sizev adapted to readily pass through the loops 'of terminal links I2 and I3.

The side chains Il and II are connected togetherat intervals by anti-skid cross members I5, formed of chain links or other` suitabletractive material. *Preferably the anti-skid cross imem- Y As best' shown in Fig. 1, inside chain II has a Y longrfree portion I IA to which no anti-skid members are connected, andfthis free portion' I IA is Vused to`secureth'e tire chain upon a wheel tire, by rst extending along the inside ofthe tire to and passing through the terminal ring I3 of the inside chain I I to complete the annular positioning of such inside chainibeside the tire (Fig. 2), and then passing Ydirectly across the tire to and through the adiacentterminal ring V.I.,2.of the outside chain I (Fig,Y 3), and finally extending along the outer side of the tire to theother end of the outside chain, to a link of which it is secured by its terminal clamp I4 `V(Fig.v 4). Where it extends across the tire, the freeportion IIA of chain-II serves'as an additionalfantiskidemember,Y ,substantially parallel with the spaced anti-skidcrossmernbers I5, and the lengt-h of :theiree kportionv IrIA is preferably Vjust su-flicient to leaveapproximately the same amount of slack'in its anti-skid cross portion as prevails inthe anti-skid cross members I5 when the terminal clamp I4 is engaged so as to complete the desired substantiallyA annular positioning ofY outside chain -Ill beside the tire. VThis provides'a Vcomparativelyloose,' .easily secured tire chain adapted for quick mounting Yupon a wheel tirein kinclement weather, and Which will maintain an increased traction `between the tire and road surface aslong asdesired. .l Y

Itis preferred vto have the inside chain comprised ot-substantially the same number of links as theV4 outside chain, when both are positioned for useyand eliminate possible slippage of the freevportion IIA vthrough terminal links I-2 or V'I3 to Yslightly unbalance the annular portions of f the side chains.' For this purpose, an additional pair of clamps are carried in the free portionv I IA 5I IAof the inside chain resting upon the road aft of'the wheel; and one or more ofthe anti-skid Vcrossmembers I5 contacting the vroad infront of the wheel. (Note Fig. 1;) The free portion IIA is 'then pulled `forwardly ,andy threaded tion of extension IIAV is then pulled rearwardly and the rearward end portion of the outside chain II) swung forwardly until the terminal clamp I4 Y engages over a suitable link of the outside chain to complete the outer annulus. V(Fig 4.)

It is believed to be obvious that many forms of clamps could be used as part of my improved tire chain. The conventional form of terminal clamp now in almost universal use may serve as my terminal yclamp I4. ,For theV intermediate clamps I6 and I'I,-however, I prefer the clamp shown in Figs. 5 and 6, whereby portions of extension IIA of inner chain II may readily be swung tovr positions at right angles to adjacent portions of such extension I IA. As best shown in Vligs..;5 4and 6, clamp IB is formed of two members pivotally. connected .to each other by pivot pin 20, one member 2I being in sheet form and the other member 22 bifurcated to straddle member 2 I. The members are provided with curved slots 2IA and 22A respectively, which, as shown in Fig. 6, are separated when extension I IA is maintained in substantially straight line position, but which cooperate in clamping aY link, as I2l when one of said members 2I or 22 is swung through 909, as shownin Fig. 4. The end walls of slots 2| A and 22A serve to hold terminal link or ring I2 rmly until one of the clamp members 2I or 22 is reversely swung to eiect its release. The right angle bends in extension II-A obtained by use of theseY clamps. are helpful in quickly mounting my ,improved ktire Vchain uponV the tire as well as maintaining the cross-chain portion of extension IIA in position for use.

Many Ways 'osecuring clampmembers 2| and 22 in thechain are available. As herein shown, a chain link 23 is secured overbend 22B in clamp member 22, and half-linkzf-l is secured at its .ends through spaced apertures in clamp vmember 2.I.

'While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understo-od that many variations and modifications `maybe made Within thespirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

.through the terminal ring I3 of'theinside chain,

Vwhich issimultaneously pulled rearwardly, the pulling being continued until` clamp I'I engages `over such terminal ring I3, as shown in Fig. 2.

as asubstantial annulus beside the tire. A Ysuit- Y Y able'instrument, such as .a Ahooked* rod, may be used Yto draw ring IS rearwardly to facilitate posi- .Y tioning of clamp VI therein. The free portion Y ,I ,IJ ,.;as-shown in Fig. 3.V The remaining end-por- JI claim: g Y

l; An anti-skid tire `chain for easy mounting upon the tire of Aa vehicle wheel comprising a side chain, an enlarged ring carried at one end of said chain, a chain of greater length than said side chain and having an enlarged ring secured at its end adjacent said Iirst mentioned ring and a clamp secured at itsjother end, a plurality of spaced antiskid cross members connecting links of said chains at substantially equal distances from said rings'to adjacent the other end of said side chain, the remaining free portion of the longer chain having one portion thereof adapted to pass along one'side of a'tire and beconnected to said ring on the longer chain, an intermediate portion thereof adapted to pass across the tire and be connected to said ring on the side chain to form an additional anti-skid membersubstantially par'. allel to the irst-naired anti-skid cross members,

and an end portion adapted to pass along a side lThis tautens therin'ner chain VII and'positions it Y f :of the tire and be connected to the other end portion of said side chain by said end clamp.

2. An anti-skidftire chain for easymounting -upon the Vtire of a vehicle wheel comprising a side chain, anenlarged ring carried'at one end of said chain, a chain of greater llength-'than-said side chain and having an enlarged ring secured at its end adjacent said first mentioned ring and a lclamp secured at its other end, a plurality of spaced anti--skid cross members connecting links of said'chains iat substantially equal distances from said rings to adjacent the other end of said side chain, a pair of clamps carried by the remaining free portion of said longer chain and spaced from said end clamp, one of said pair of clamps being adapted to be connected to said ring of the longer chain, the other of said pair of clamps being adapted to be connected to said ring of said side chain, and the end clamp being adapted to be connected to the opposite end of said side chain to thereby secure the tire chain on a tire with the portion between the said pair of -clamps positioned across the tire to form an 6 additional anti-skid member substantially paralle] to the first-named anti-skid cross members.

FILBERT G. FOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the :tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 2,074,616 Martel Mar. 23, 1937 2,130,293 Bonforte Sept. 13, 1938 

